Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F30/00—Computer-aided design [CAD]
  • G06F30/10—Geometric CAD
  • G06F30/18—Network design, e.g. design based on topological or interconnect aspects of utility systems, piping, heating ventilation air conditioning [HVAC] or cabling
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F30/00—Computer-aided design [CAD]
  • G06F30/10—Geometric CAD
  • G06F30/13—Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F30/00—Computer-aided design [CAD]
  • G06F30/20—Design optimisation, verification or simulation
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q50/00—Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
  • G06Q50/06—Energy or water supply
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F2111/00—Details relating to CAD techniques
  • G06F2111/10—Numerical modelling
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F2119/00—Details relating to the type or aim of the analysis or the optimisation
  • G06F2119/08—Thermal analysis or thermal optimisation

Definitions

• one or more portions of the energy profile are selectable by a user, wherein upon user selection, the energy profile is updated.
• the energy profile comprises at least one of a graph, text, the design profile, an index, a representation of the design model, or any combination thereof.
• the geometry information comprises at least one of area data, normal data, or vertex data associated with one or more model objects in the design model
• the material information comprises a material associated with the one or more model objects in the design model
• the geometry information corresponds to a square wall of a building
• the material associated with the one or more model objects is brick.
• the cost information includes at least one of material cost or energy cost.
• the material information comprises a first material
• the geometry information comprises a first geometry
• the energy analysis model is a first energy analysis model
• the energy transmissions are first energy transmissions
• the method further comprises locating at least one of a second material different from the first material or a second geometry different from the first geometry, generating a second energy analysis model based on the at least one of the second material or the second geometry and based on the location information and the constraints, and determining, based on the generated second energy analysis model, second energy transmissions for the design model.
• the method further comprises causing the first energy transmissions and the second energy transmissions to be presented at a user device.
• the computing device further comprises a chronology generator to generate, based on the determined first energy transmissions and the determined second energy transmissions, an energy chronology.
• the second controller is configured to determine, at a first time, a first list of model objects within the design model, determine, at a second time, a second list corresponding to model objects that match, are altered, or are new in view of the first list of model objects, quantify the variance based on the second list, and determine that the quantified variance meets or exceeds the threshold.
• the received material constraints correspond to at least one of locked, type, sub-type, palette, or unlocked.
• the maximum distance corresponds to a minimum distance between each of the plurality of vertices of the model object.
• the search engine locates materials that are at least one of a same type, a same brand, a same manufacturer, or a same supplier as the first material.
• the maximum distance corresponds to a minimum distance between each of the plurality of vertices of the model object.
• An example computer-implemented method comprises receiving data corresponding to a representation of a structure comprising one or more model objects associated with material information, geometry information, and location information.
• generating an analytical model by generating an environment based on the location information, generating at least one list of vertices and materials indexed to the one or more model objects, and determining energy transmissions of the analytical model based on energy transmissions through surfaces of the one or more model objects.
• Energy data may be determined and presented to a user throughout a design process.
• such data may be presented in a step-wise manner to allow a user to step through iterations of the design and evaluate each iteration with respect to its energy transmissions.
• a user may evaluate, at each iteration, various alternate geometries and/or materials that would affect the energy transmissions of such iteration. Users may appreciate and/or implement changes in his or her design model based on the above advantageous information.
• Such advantages improve building technologies by allowing designers to understand energy efficiency of various designs early in the design process and make changes accordingly.
• FIG. 1 illustrates an example environment including a local instance and a remote server in communication via a network.
• Design models often comprise one or more model objects (MO).
• a design model is expressly defined to include at least one MO generated in a CAD environment by a user.
• a design model may be a computer-generated three-dimensional graphical model of a building (design model) comprising one or more walls (MOs) designed in a CAD environment.
• Model objects generally consist of at least two types of information, geometry information and layer attribute information.
• Geometry information constitutes a vector math description of the given form of the model object.
• the geometry information may comprise, without limitation, area data, normal data, and vertex data.
• the geometric information may define a surface of a wall of the building, such as the facade.
• an energy model is created from profile information associated with a design model.
• the profile information may be a representation of the actual model objects within a design model.
• Location information can be assigned to the energy model.
• location information can be a city identifier in which the building is to be built, information regarding an object that another object is within (e.g., a piston in an engine), etc.
• climate information can be determined from the location information in order to create the energy model for the design model.
• a system 100 may be utilized to analyze model objects created by a user in CAD environments.
• a design model includes at least one MO generated in a CAD environment by a user.
• a local instance (LI) 102 is associated with a user console such as, for example, a desktop computer, cloud computer, etc.
• the local instance 102 may a plug-in for CAD software (e.g., Rhinoceros, AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, etc.) executing in connection with the user console.
• the local instance 102 may communicate with a remote server (RS) 104 and/or other elements via a network 106 (e.g., the Internet).
• RS remote server
• the LI manager 108 may compare information corresponding to a design model within a CAD environment with information corresponding to design profile(s) stored within the design cache 110 and associated with the design model. For example, when a MO is created, deleted, altered, or otherwise manipulated, the LI manager 108 may store data corresponding to the MO and/or the change in the MO (e.g., the difference between a MO at time 1 and a MO at time 2 after a manipulation) in the design cache 110. While the user generated MO may be represented as a three- dimensional graphic in the CAD environment, the LI manager 108 may store data corresponding to a mathematical representation of the three-dimensional graphic such as vector information, geometry information, layer attribute information, identifying information, etc.
• the LI manager 108 may identify and store area, vertex, normal, and material data for a MO.
• the LI manager 108 may store such information in the design cache 110 as a design profile for the MO.
• the LI manager 108 may update the design profile as the MO is manipulated by a user.
• the design cache 110 may comprise a plurality of design profiles for a plurality of MOs.
• the example design profiles may mathematically describe the model objects of a design model such that graphical representations of the model objects could be recreated based on the design profiles.
• the design profiles may include additional information such as location, environmental conditions associated with a MO, etc.
• all model objects in the CAD environment may have corresponding design profiles associated with unique identifiers.
• the LI manager 108 may determine which model objects are the same, which model objects have been altered, and which model objects are new.
• the example user interface 112 provides a portal between a user and the devices, systems and methods described herein.
• the user interface 112 presents, to the user, data corresponding to the energy analysis as further described herein.
• the user interface 112 allows a user to select and/or modify constraints to be used during the search, browse through search results, manually request energy analysis of a design model at any given time, adjust user preferences, edit location information, etc.
• the remote server 104 may comprise a RS manager 1 16, a model generator 118, a search engine 120, and a chronology generator 122.
• the remote server 104 may communicate with the local instance 102 and/or other elements via the network 106. While the remote server 104 is illustrated as comprising the RS manager 116, the model generator 118, the search engine 120, and the chronology generator 122, the remote server 104 may comprise additional elements not shown in FIG. 1.
• the RS manager 116, the model generator 118, the search engine 120, and the chronology generator 122 may communicate with each other, the network 106, and/or other elements via a wired or wireless connection, illustrated as a bus 124 in FIG. 1.
• the example RS manager 116 may receive design profiles from the local instance 102 in response to the threshold being satisfied and/or in response to a manual request from a user through the user interface 112.
• the RS manager 116 may package outputs of the model generator 118, search engine 120, and/or chronology generator 122.
• the RS manager 116 may send the packaged outputs to the local instance 102 to be displayed via the user interface 112.
• Example packages generated by the RS manager 116 include an energy profile, which may include a line graph for a design model plotting an output of the example model generator 118 over time (e.g., across twelve months of a year, a minute, or any other appropriate timeframe), line graphs for variants of the design model determined by the search engine 120, a bar graph energy chronology for iterations of the design model based on the outputs of the chronology generator, textual information regarding the design model, the design profile of the design model, a graphical representation of the design model, indexed data associated with the design model, etc.
• an energy profile may include a line graph for a design model plotting an output of the example model generator 118 over time (e.g., across twelve months of a year, a minute, or any other appropriate timeframe), line graphs for variants of the design model determined by the search engine 120, a bar graph energy chronology for iterations of the design model based on the outputs of the chronology generator, textual information regarding the design model, the design
• the example model generator 118 generates a mathematical model based on received design profiles from the local instance 102.
• the model generator 118 analyzes the generated mathematical model to determine energy transmissions of the design model.
• the model generator 118 may apply one or more mathematical equations to the generated mathematical model as will be further described herein.
• the model generator 118 may additionally generate a plurality of alternate mathematical models based on the received design profiles and a plurality of alternate geometries and/or material attributes determined by the example search engine 120.
• the example search engine 120 manipulates the input data used to generate the mathematical model by providing users various alternate MO attributes to use in connection with or instead of the MO attributes used to create the design. For example, while an initial mathematical model may be generated by the example model generator 118 based on the design model, the example search engine 120 may identify a plurality of alternate geometries and/or material attributes that could potentially be used in the design model. Such alternate geometries and/or material attributes may be subject to extrinsic constraints (e.g., user defined constraints and preferences) and intrinsic constraints (e.g., defined by physics). The example search engine 120 may provide such plurality of alternate geometries and/or material attributes to the model generator 118 for generation of a plurality of alternate mathematical models based on the design profiles and the plurality of alternate geometries and/or material attributes.
• extrinsic constraints e.g., user defined constraints and preferences
• intrinsic constraints e.g., defined by physics
• the example chronology generator 122 generates a history of the results of the analysis by the model generator 118.
• Each "step" of a design model may be stored chronologically. As described herein, a "step” is determined when a variance in the design model satisfies a threshold.
• the generated chronology may be presented to a user through the user interface 112. Each "step” may be selected by user through the user interface 112 to navigate through the chronology of the design model.
• the chronology may be associated with the energy profiles and design model such that as a user navigates through the "steps" of the design model and energy profile is updated to reflect the selected "step.”
• the local instance 102, the remote server 104, and/or other computing devices described herein may be implemented via a hardware platform such as, for example, the computing device 200 illustrated in FIG. 2.
• the computing device 200 may implement the elements of the local instance 102 and the remote server 104, such that all elements are incorporated into a single device. Some elements described with reference to the computing device 200 may be alternately implemented in software.
• the computing device 200 may include one or more processors 201, which may execute instructions of a computer program to perform any of the features described herein. The instructions may be stored in any type of tangible computer-readable medium or memory, to configure the operation of the processor 201.
• tangible computer-readable storage medium is expressly defined to include storage devices or storage discs and to exclude transmission media and propagating signals.
• instructions may be stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 202, random access memory (RAM) 203, removable media 204, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive, compact disk (CD) or digital versatile disk (DVD), floppy disk drive, or any other desired electronic storage medium.
• Instructions may also be stored in an attached (or internal) hard drive 205.
• the computing device 200 may include one or more input/output devices 206, such as a display, touch screen, keyboard, mouse, microphone, software user interface, etc.
• the computing device 200 may include one or more device controllers 207 such as a video processor, keyboard controller, etc.
• the computing device 200 may also include one or more network interfaces 208, such as input/output circuits (such as a network card) to communicate with a network such as example network 106.
• the network interface 208 may be a wired interface, wireless interface, or a combination thereof.
• FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart representative of machine readable instructions that, when executed, may cause a computing device to implement a process 300.
• the example process 300 may begin at block 302.
• the LI manager 108 may generate one or more design profiles for the design model.
• the LI manager 108 may transmit the one or more design profiles to RS manager 116.
• the RS manager 116 forwards the one or more design profiles to the model generator 118.
• the model generator 118 may be located at the remote server 104.
• the model generator 118 may be local to LI manager 108.
• the one or more design profiles for the design model generated by the LI manager 108 may be stored in the design cache 110.
• the example LI manager 108 may determine whether analysis based on the transmitted design profiles is received (block 306).
• the received analysis includes an energy profile, as disclosed herein.
• the analysis may be received from the RS manager 116 of the remote server 104.
• the RS manager 116 may be local to the LI manager 108 and the analysis may be received from a local connection (e.g., bus 114). If analysis has not been received (block 306: NO), control proceeds to block 308.
• the LI manager 108 determines whether the design model is different from the design profiles stored in the design cache 110 by a threshold amount. If the design model is not different from the design profiles stored in the design cache 110 by the threshold amount (block 308: NO), control returns to block 306. If the design model is different from the design profiles stored in the design cache 110 by the threshold amount (block 308: YES), control proceeds to block 310. At block 310, the LI manager 108 updates the design profiles stored in the design cache 110 with design profiles for the modified design model. Thereafter, control returns to block 304.
• the analysis may comprise one or more search results and data analysis in connection with the one or more search results in addition to the data analysis based on transmitted design profiles.
• alternate geometries and/or materials may be utilized in the analysis to provide alternate design model transforms that may improve the design model of a user.
• search results may be presented in association with the analysis packaged in the one or more graphs, text boxes, three-dimensional representations and may include respective energy profiles.
• the graphical representations of the analysis associated with a selected MO and/or the entire design model may be updated to reflect the materials and/or geometry of the browsed packaged search result.
• the example LI manager 108 determines whether a user has browsed the presented search results. If the example LI manager 108 determines that a user has browsed the packaged search results (block 314: YES), control proceeds to block 316. At block 316, the LI manager 108 updates the graphical representation of the design model via the user interface 112 to reflect the geometry and/or materials associated with the browsed search result. At block 318, the LI manager 108 may determine whether a user has accepted the browsed search result such that it should be incorporated into the actual design model. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9 A, a user may accept a browsed search result by selecting an option 918 on the user interface 112.
• the LI manager 108 determines that a user has accepted the browsed search result (block 318: YES), control proceeds to block 320.
• the LI manager 108 updates the design model with the accepted browsed search result.
• the design model may be updated based on the whole or portions of whole accepted browsed search result. For example, single model objects may be updated, the entire design model may be updated, etc.
• the design model is directly updated with the geometry and/or material associated with the accepted browsed search result.
• the geometry and/or material associated with the accepted browsed search result are attached to the design model and/or design profile as a preference or attribute.
• an exit routine may occur at any time, an example exit routine is illustrated as block 322 in FIG. 3.
• the example LI manager 108 determines whether to continue analyzing new design profiles. For example, the LI manager 108 may determine whether there are any errors, if there are enough resources (e.g., power, processors, memory, etc.), or other known reasons to exit process 300. If the example LI manager 108 determines to continue (block 322: YES), control returns to block 308. Otherwise (block 322: NO), process 300 ceases operation.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart representative of machine readable instructions that, when executed, may cause a computing device to implement a process 400.
• the example process 400 may begin at block 402.
• the example RS manager 116 may receive, from the LI manager 108, design profiles corresponding to a design model generated at a user console.
• the design model may include a single MO created by a user or multiple model objects created by a user over time or loaded from a saved file.
• the example model generator 118 may generate an analysis model based on the received design profiles of the model objects in the design model (block 402).
• the generated analysis model may be a mathematical representation of the information in the design profiles.
• the example model generator 118 may perform data analysis on the generated analysis model (block 404).
• the data analysis may be, without limitation, analysis of the energy transmissions through the surfaces of the model objects that collectively form the design model.
• a search may be enabled at any time during the process 400, an example search check is illustrated as block 406 of FIG. 4.
• the example RS manager 116 may determine whether searching has been enabled by a user (block 406).
• geometric and material constraints may be used to determine whether a search is enabled and to what extent a search is enabled. For example, if geometric and material constraints are set to "locked,” a search is disabled. Likewise, if geometric and material constraints are set to "unlocked" the broadest search is enabled. The following are examples of constraints that may be utilized herein.
• This constraint may allow a low degree of geometric search for identified model objects. For example, a user may wish to search for geometry similar or close to his or her design model.
• Unlocked - This constraint may allow a high degree of geometric search for identified model objects limited only by implicit constraints (e.g., constraints defined by physics). For example, a user may wish to search for all alternate geometries. erials:
• This constraint may prevent a material search for identified model objects.
• Sub-Type 2 - This constraint may enable a brand, manufacturer, or supplier based material search. For example, if a model object is assigned to the category of glass, applying a sub-type 2 constraint may limit material searches for the selected object to the particular brands, manufacturers, or suppliers of glass.
• Unlocked - This value when assigned to a model object, enables any material to be used during a material search for the selected model object. All library materials may be searched when creating a solution for the selected model object. [169] There may be any number of constraints between "locked” and “unlocked” for both materials and geometry such that various searching spaces may be created, as further disclosed herein.
• FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart representative of machine readable instructions that, when executed, may cause a computing device to implement block 308 of FIG. 3 to determine whether a design model differs from corresponding design profiles by a threshold amount.
• the example implementation of block 308 to perform the above described process may begin at block 500.
• Boolean arrays are used to determine whether a design model differs from corresponding design profiles by a threshold amount.
• indexing methodologies are used.
• the LI manager 108 may compare the vertices of the representation of the model object in the design profile with the vertices of the first and second model objects and may identify that the representation of the model object in the design profile (e.g., the building facade associated with the design profile) corresponds to the first model object (e.g., the building facade associated with the design model), because the vertices match. Any additional non-matching model objects may be determined to be new.
• the example LI manager 108 aggregates or otherwise sums together the ⁇ values to produce an aggregate ⁇ value.
• the example LI manager 108 compares the aggregate ⁇ value to a threshold.
• the example threshold may be a range variable used to describe when a degree of change is significant enough for the design cache 110 to be updated with the information corresponding to the design model.
• the example threshold may be set to avoid updating every single modification of the design model, which may be deemed tedious. However, the threshold may be set low to update the design cache 110 with every modification that occurs within the CAD environment. Multiple alterations, the addition of multiple objects to the design model, or the removal of multiple objects from the design model may be examples wherein the aggregate ⁇ value satisfies the threshold.
• the example implementation of block 308 may cease operation.
• the example model generator 118 generates an environment model based on the received location information.
• the environment model may include environment data corresponding to the location.
• the environment data may correspond to nature (e.g., seasons, length of day, sun angles, temperatures, weather conditions, etc.).
• the environment data may correspond to any conditions in areas around structures (e.g., the conditions surrounding a piston within an engine).
• the model generator 118 may add vertex information to a model object of the analysis model to make the two model objects have matching vertices, such as shown below in the following examples:
• Example 1
• the material transform occurs directly such that an integer value XI or X2 (etc.) would refer to the library index for the selected material
• the default value for a material will be the default value assigned by the library unless a user has selected a material produced by an analysis result

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• 2017
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